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(No Model.) I 7 Shets-Sheet 1; L. C. CROWEL'L.

DELIVERY APPARATIN FOR PRINTING MAUHINES.

No. 339,530. Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

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(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. 0 GROWELL.

DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MAGHINES.

No. 339,530. PatentedApr. 6, 1886..

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Patented Apr. 6', 1886.

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L. O. GROWELL.

DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR- PRINTING MACHINES.

(No Model.)

Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

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(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

' L. G. OROWELL.

DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

No. 339,530. Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

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L. O. GROWELL.

DELIVERY APPARATU$ FOR PRINTING MACHINES.

No. 339,530. Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

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L. O. OROWELL.

DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING MACHINES. No. 339,530. Patented Apr. 6,1886.

TRIEUNE U i. a LA l i I no on Urrn States a llENll rricn.

LUTHER O. OROYVELL, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO B. HOE & CO., OF NEW YORK,N. Y.

DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR PRINTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,530, dated April 6,1886.

Application filed April 17, 1884. Serial No. 128,238. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER G. GRownLL, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DeliveryApparatus for Printing-lllachines, fully described and represented inthe following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming apart of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a folding mechanismespecially adapted as the delivery apparatus of a printing machine, theprimary longitudinal folder being shown in dotted lines. In this view Aindicates the side at which the printing apparatus is located, or atwhich the paper is introduced into the delivery apparatus. B indicatesthe sheet-delivery side, and 0 one of the sides of the apparatus. Inthis view, and also in Fig. 4, many of the underlying parts are omittedfor the sake of avoiding confusion.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the apparatus as seen from the B or deliveryside of the apparatus, part of the frame-work being removed. Fig. 3 isan elevation as viewed from the 0 side of the apparatus, some of theparts being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 1,showing the apparatus with the secondary longitudinal folder adjustedinto folding position. Fig. 5 is a similar View to that of Fig. 3, butthe frame-work is omitted, the rotary fly-cylinder is illustrated insectional elevation, and the secondary longitudinal folder is adjustedinto folding position. Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic plans illustratingtwo modes of operation. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate the variousconditions of the paper in its passage through the apparatus whenadjusted as in Figs. 1, 3, and 6. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 illustrate thevarious conditions of the paper in its passage through the apparatuswhen adjusted as in Figs. 4, 5, and 7.

It is the object of this invention to capacitate a single set ofdelivery apparatus where in the sheets are folded to so operate, bymeans of slight adjustment, that the sheets may be delivered folded inmore than one form-as twice folded for ready handling in distribution asby carriers, or three or more times folded into proper shape fordistribution through the mails.

The principal feature of the invention consists in a longitudinal folderwhich is so constructed and combined with the other mechanisms that itcan be moved or adjusted to different positions with relation to thepreceding meohanism,wherehy it may be caused to receive the web or sheetin such position that it will be folded centrally or at one side of thecenter, or in such position that the web or sheet will be simply guidedor turned without being folded in passing through the folder, andwhereby, also, webs or sheets of different widths may be foldedcentrally.

The invention also includes the combination of two folding mechanismsarranged to act upon the web or sheet in succession, the second of saidmechanisms being a longitudinal folder, and the two being adjustablewith relation to each other, whereby the same re sults can beaccomplished.

The invention also embraces various other combinations, all of whichwill be hereinafter described and pointed out.

That this invention may be readily understood and carried out, theconstruction and operation of the apparatus involving a practicalembodiment of it, as shown in the ac companying drawings, will beexplained in detail; and, first, the general construction of the variousmechanisms constituting this apparatus will be explained without regardto the adjusting feature of the longitudinal folder.

It is to be observed that the said drawings do not show the printingapparatus or source of supply of the sheets, but are confined to thedelivery apparatus. It will, however, be readily understood by referenceto Figs. 1, 2, and 3, where the sides of the apparatus are marked A, B,and C, respectively, that any apparatus operating upon a web of paper-asa printing apparatus of any of the well-known forms, which operate toprint a web of mate rial upon both of its surfaces and to deliver thesame, either wholly'or partially cut into sheets or not-may be placed soas to deliver the printed web or sheets at the A side of this apparatus,at which side the primary longitudinal folder extends rearward. ThisAside is therefore the receiving side of the appawidth of the sheet orweb as it is presented to the folder, and external turners, 80 90, bothof which may be constructed in any of the common ways now practiced, asis illustrated by Letters Patent Nos. 233,994, 233,995, 233,996,233,997, 240,235, 269,019, 276,672, and in my pending application filedFebruary 8, 1884.

The primary longitudinal folder is not taped, while the secondary isprovided with conducting-tapes, adapting it for the manipulation ofsheets. The primary may, however, be provided with such tapes, so as toconduct sheets, in which case the printing apparatus will be providedwith a cutting or perforating mechanism for the purpose of dividing theprinted web into sheets, and means will be provided,

for accelerating the sheets, so as to provide a working-space betweenthem as they enter into the delivery apparatus, and for collecting twoor more sheets, if desired.

Beneath the primary longitudinal folder there is arranged the rotatingcarrier L of a rotary folding mechanism,- a cutting-cylinder, U,folding-rollers T H, a tape-roller, E, and a shaft, It, all of whichhave parallel axes and are mounted to turn in a suitable frame-work. Thecylinder U and the carrier L are geared together by the wheels 31 32,and the shaft of the carrier L is provided with a pinion, 33, that gearswith a driving-wheel, 34, that is driven from a pinion, 35, on the shaftR,which latter is the driving-shaft of the delivery apparatus, and mayreceive its motion by suitable gearing from the printing apparatus, soas to run in unison therewith.

The cutting mechanism consists of slots a in the carrier L, and acutting-blade, 13, in the cylinder U. This is a simple form of cuttingmechanism, but may have substituted for it any of the well'knownconstructions.

The foldingrollers T H will be geared together, as is usual, and one ofthe gears-that upon the roller Tn1ay receive motion by meshing with thewheel 32,'as is common in rotary folders. The positive motion thusderived will be imparted to the tapes 0, that pass over roller T and thetape roller or pulleys E.

The conductors 8 9, forming in connection with the tapes 0 aconducting-pathway for the sheets from said folding-rollers T H to thecarrier-rollers 21 22, are, as is usual, short severed until after itpasses them, revolve or not, as may be desired; but where the web issevered before passing over the primary longitudinal folder-that is,where tapes will be employed said tapes may return around the turners 4050, and being driven impart a proper surface-speed to said turners.

The carrier L is provided with two doublebladed rotating folders, S,mounted at opposite points near the periphery of said carrier, eachbeing provided with rock-arms, as F, Figs. 1 and 2, which cooperate withcams so as to protrude a blade between the rollers T H in passing thesame, as is fully set forth in the Patent No. 171,196. These doublerotating folding-blades may have substituted for them single blades, andany other means for producing their protrusion between fold-formingdevices, and withdrawal therefrom, of which many varieties are nowcommon in the art of folding-machines-e. 9., Patents Nos. 143,674,

197,694, 214,066-or any other rotary folding mechanism may be employed.At points midway between these rotary folding-blades two setsofsheet-holding pins, 23, are provided,

their points being located so as to protrude just in the rear of thecutting-slots a, said pins being mounted upon rock-shafts that projectbeyond the end of the cylinder, and

receive appropriate motion for protruding or withdrawing them by meansof a cam, 2

The secondary longitudinal folder, composed of the internal guides, 6070, and cooperating external turners, 90, is supported in aframework inwhich is also mounted, beneath said turners 8O 90, a delivery-cylinder,51, the axis of which is at right angles to that of the carrier L. Theturners 8O are geared together to run in unison by the wheels 52 54, andthey are driven in the proper direction by means of the pinion 55, whichengages through an intermediate with a wheel, 56, the latter being on ashaft, 57, that receives motion from the main shaft R by means of thebevel-wheels 63 64. This shaft R also carries a wheel, 65, that drives apinion, 66, that is mounted at one end of the tape pulleys or roller 22,which taperoller 22 is so geared to its companion 21 at the opposite endas to drive the same in unison with it, toothed wheels being used forthis purpose, only one, 67, of which is shown, Figs. 1 and 2. Thissecondary longitudinal folder is a taped folder adapted for themauipulation'of sheets, and for this purpose it is provided with twoseries of tapes-an under and an upper series. The under series oftapes,all of which are marked 53, start from the pulley 22, pass in contactwith roller 21, and thence over pulleys 43 at the base of the secondarylongitudinal folder, and thence pass over pulleys, as 44, which arelocated just behind the internal guides, 60 70, at different pointsthereof, all these tapes 53 returning over stretchingpulleys 45 to theroller 22. The upper series, all of which are marked 42, start from theroller 21, run over the pulleys 43 at the base of the longitudinalfolder, and pass over its internal guides, thence between the externalturners, 8O 90, (which are shown as rollers.) and thence pass in contactwith the delivery-cylinder 51. A portion of said tapes return underpulleys47,over pulleys48,around pulleys 4:9, and over pulleys 99 to therollers 21, and another portion pass around the delivery-cylinder 51 andreturn under pulleys 94, over pulleys 95, around pulleys 96, and overpulleys 97 to the said pulley 21.

The sheet-piling mechanism is what is now known as a rotary fly. Itconsists of a cylinder, 51, having a suitable number of fingers or arms,as 83, mounted to swing in re cesses in the periphery of said cylinder,and propelled or vibrated at the proper intervals of time by means of acam. (Not shown.) Each set of these fingers or arms operate first tograsp the leading end of a sheet, so as to clamp the same onto thecylinder and carry it onward therewith as the cylinder rotates; then torelease the sheet, so that it may descend onto belts 75, that are slowlyrotated by pulleys 76 77, and it finally acts to lay the sheets smoothlyonto said belts, where their forward movement is suspended by stops 78,which three operations are illustrated in Fig. 5. Any other pilingmechanism may, however, be employed, and that shown is not claimedherein.

The secondary longitudinal folder, including its taping andtape-carrying pulleys, together with the delivery -cylinder 51' and itsdriving mechanisms, are all mounted in the same frame work, and thelatter is arranged to slide upon a bed-plate, X, (see Figs. 1 to 4,) andis thus capable of being bodily moved from the position shown in Figs.1, 3, and 6 to that shown in Figs. 4 and 7, this move ment beingaccomplished by a screw, Z, which works in a nut, \V, and is turned bythe handwheelY, or in any other manner. In this adjustment of thesecondary folder and its various adjuncts the driven pinion 35 on theshaft R, whereby motion is communicated from the primary driver, willremain meshed with the drivingwheel 34, by reason of the.

fact that said pinion 35 is secured upon the shaft R by means of aspline that runs in a groove in said shaft, as is well shown in Figs. 1and 3.

Assuming the apparatus to be adjusted as in Figs. 1 to 3 and 6, itsoperation will he as follows: The web of material-say printedpaper-shown as passing over the primary 1ongitudinal folder in Figs. 2and 3, 'will be doubled or folded longitudinally as it passes over theinternal guides, 20 30, and between the tnrners 4:0 50, and thus folded,as in Figs. 8 and 11, its leading edge will be impaled by the pins 23 onthe carrier L, so as to be carried around upon the surface of saidcarrier. In passing between the cutting devices cithis folded web willbe severed transversely into sheets; but before such severance the setof pins 23 will impale said web just behind the cutting-line, so as tosecure what will become the end of the web when the severance takesplace, and thus carry it onward as before. W hen a section of the webconstituting a sheets length has been carried onward by the carrier L soas to bring its middle portion over the folding-rollers T H, afolding-blade, S. will be moved to protrude from the carrier and pressthe said middle portion of the sheet into the nip of said rollers, thepins 23 being simultaneously withdrawn to release the leading edge ofthe sheet. This accomplishes a second or transverse fold in the sheet orone at right angles to its primary fold, as in Figs. 9 and 12. The sheetthus twice folded is carried onward .by the nip of the tapes 0 androller H, and

passes between the conductors 8 9 until it is entered into the tapes 4253 at the rollers 21 22. In consequence of its lengthwise dimensionshaving been reduced, the speed of travel of the sheet-may also bereduced, and for this purpose the relative size of the driver 83 and thedriver 35 vary appropriately. The twicefolded sheet is then carried bythe tapes 42 53 through the secondary longitudinal folder; but when thisfolder is adjusted to the position before stated the position of itscenter with respect to that of the preceding mechanisms is such'that thepathway of the sheet will be confined to a movement over the guide 60,which forms one side of thefolder, and which is, as will be observed, ofsufficient length to receive the whole width of the sheet, as is bestseen in Fig. 6. From this it follows that said secondary longitudinalfolder in this case acts simply as a carrier or turner, and this for thereason that the pathway of the sheet is such that no part of the sheetgoes over the apex or foldingpoint of said secondary longitudinalfolder. The twice-folded sheet will then be led from the externalturners, 90, and dc livered still in its twice folded condition, as inFig. 10, in like manner as will be the case when the secondarylongitudinal folder operates as a folder, which will presently beexplained.

When the secondary longitudinal folder and its adjuncts are adjusted inthe positions shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 7, they will be in such positionas to cause the center of the twieefolded sheet to pass over the apex orfolding-point of the secondary longitudinal folder, as is best shown inFig. 7. The result will therefore be that when the twice-folded sheetpasses over the internal guides, 60 70, and between the externalturners, 80 90, it will receive a third fold parallel with its firstfold and at right angles to its second fold, as in Fig. 13. The sheetsas they leave the secondary longitudinal folder, whether folded thereby,as in Fig 13, or not, as in Fig. 10, have their leading edges seized bythe fingers 83, whereby they are clamped onto the cylinder 51, and asthis cylinder revolves said fingers will, as they approach the pointoccupied by the stops 78, be vibrated to release the sheet, which sheetthereupon is free to fall upon the belt 75, and be laid against saidstops, as shown in Fig. 5.

By considering Figs. 6 and 7 it will be perceived that the inventionwill be involved if the rotary transverse folding mechanism be entirelyomitted. Thus the web, after being centrally folded in passing theprimary longitudinal folder, as in Figs. 8 and 11, may be led directlyfrom the external turners, 40 50, to the secondary longitudinal folder,and the latter may be adjusted, as in Fig. 6, so that it will guide orturn the once-folded web onward to the cylinder 51 without impartinganother fold to said web; or the secondary folder may be adjusted, as inFig. 7, so that the oncefolded web in passing through the same willreceive a second fold parallel with the first fold. In such anapparatus, however,it will be necessary either to provide the cylinder51 with cutting mechanism, to divide the web into appropriate sheets, inwhich case neither longitudinal folder need be taped, or to tape bothlongitudinal folders and perform the cutting operation in theprinting-machine; or, ifthe primary longitudinal folder be without tapesand the secondary longitudinal folder be taped, then a cutting mechanismwould be interposed between them.

The invention will also be involved if the primary folding mechanism beentirely omitted, or if it be of any known type. Thus, assuming theprimary longitudinal folder to be omitted and a folding-meC-haniSmas therotary one shownto be used for imparting the primary fold, in that casethe adjustment of what is here calledithe secondary longitudinal folderwill operate to impart a fold to the sheet passed through it, or omitsuch fold, as may be desired. So, too, there may be introduced betweensaid adjustable folding mechanism (what is called the secondarylongitudinal folder) and whatever piling mechanism is used, one'or morefolding mech anisms, in which instance, as in all other cases, thefunction of the adjustable folding mechanism will be to impart a fold ornot, according to the requirements and its position of adjustment. Thefolder interposed between the primary and secondary longitudinal foldersmay be of any known type. It will also be seen that by adjusting thesecondary longitudinal folder. to positions intermediate of those shownin Figs. 6 and 7, the web or sheet may be folded at one side of itscenter line, or a web or sheet of less than full width may be foldedcentrally.

It is to be remarked that when two longitudinal folders are combined, asshown in the present case, and are arranged to act successively upon theweb or sheet, either with or without an interposed transverse folder,the results herein described may be attained by adjusting the firstfolderlongitudinally or forward and back, instead of by adjusting thesecond folder laterally or sidewise, as herein sh own,and sueh'anarrangement is to be considered as, in a broad sense, embraced withinthe present invention. An organization of such a character will,however, be specifically claimed in a future application.

By these" improvements a folding -delivery apparatus is capacitated bymeans of a unitary set of mechanisms to imparta given number of folds toa sheet, or to omit one of said folds by mere adj ustment,aud withoutrequiring putting into operation what may be termed an extra set ofsheet folding and piling mechanisms, as has heretofore been requiredwhen an apparatus is fitted to produce folded sheets in two or moreforms.

What therefore is claimed is'- 1. In a delivery apparatus,a longitudinalfolder which is made adjustable ,or capable of being moved to differentpositions with relation to the preceding mechanisms, so that it, can becaused to receive the sheet or web in such position that it will befolded in passing through the folder, or in such position that it willbe simply guided or turned over one of the sides or internal guides ofthe folder without being folded, all substantially as described.

2. In a delivery apparatus, a longitudinal folder having one of itssidesorinternal guides of sufficient length to receive the full width of theweb or sheet presented to the folder, and which is made adjustable orcapable of being moved to different positions with relation to thepreceding mechanisms, so that it can be caused to receive the sheet orweb in such position that it will be folded in passing through thefolder, or in such position that it will be simply guided or turned overone of the sides or internal guides of the folder without being folded,all substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a longitudinal folder which is adj ust-able orcapable of being moved to different positions with relation to thepreceding mechanisms, of a sheet-piling mechanism which is madeadjustable to correspond with or conform to the position of the folder,all substantially as described.

4. The combination of two folding mechanisms arranged to act upon theweb or sheet in succession, and the second of which mechanisms is alongitudinal folder, said mechanisms being adjustable with relation toeach other, so that the web or sheet may be received by the secondmechanism in position'to be folded thereby, or in position to be simplyguided by it without being folded, all substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a folding mechanism arranged to impart a foldto a web or sheet, of a secondary folding mechanism con sisting of alongitudinal folder which is adjustable, so that the web or sheet may bere ceived by it in position to be folded, or in position to be simplyguided by it without being folded, all substantially as described.

6. The combination of two longitudinal folders arranged to act upon theweb or sheet in succession, said folders being adjustable with relationto each other, so that the web or sheet may be received by the second inposition to be folded thereby,.or in position to be simply guided by itwithout being folded, all substantially as described.

7. The combination of two longitudinal folders arranged to act upon theweb or sheet in succession, the second of said folders being adjustable,so that theweb or sheet may be received by it in position to be folded,or in position to be simply guided by it without being folded, allsubstantially as described.

8. The combination of two longitudinal folders and an interposed foldingmechanism, the three being arranged to operate upon the web or sheet insuccession, and said longitudinal folders being adjustable with relationto each other, so that the web or sheet may be received by the second ofsaid folders in position to be folded thereby, or in position to besimply guided by it without being folded, all substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination of two longitudinal folders and an interposed foldingmechanism, the three being arranged to operate upon the web or sheet insuccession, and the second of said longitudinal folders being adjustablewith relation to the other, so that the web or sheet may be received byit in position to befolded,

or in position to be simply guided by it without being folded,allsubstantially as described.

10. The combination,with astationary folding mechanism, of a foldingmechanism mounted in a movable frame-work, whereby the position of thelatter mechanism with respect to the former may be adjusted to operateas a guiding or folding mechanism, substantially as described.

11. The combination,with a stationary folding mechanism, of alongitudinal folding mechanism and a sheet-piling mechanism, bothmounted in a movable frame, whereby while their corelation is maintainedtheir position with respect to the other folding mechanism may beadjusted so as to guide and deliver or fold and deliver, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LUTHER G. GROWELL. Witnesses:

T. H. PALMER, J. A. HovnY.

